Advisory Council sees high desert management issues first-hand

Resource management issues in Northeast California's high desert were discussed June 4 and 5, when the BLM's Northeast California Resource Advisory Council toured public lands managed by the Alturas Field Office. The group also held a business meeting, where they endorsed plans by the Alturas, Eagle Lake and Surprise field offices to implement newly developed resource management (land use) plans. (text continues below)

Above, RAC members and BLM staff hiked through a stand of aspens on the historic Williams Ranch, which has been transferred into public ownership. It is managed for livestock grazing and environmental education. Views of the Madeline Plains region of Lassen County are a highlight on the upper reaches of the Williams Ranch, below.

At West Valley Reservoir, east of the Modoc County community of Likely, the RAC discussed off highway vehicle use and other recreation management issues. Below, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Claude Singleton shows details on a map. The reservoir (second photo below), built in 1937 for irrigation, attracts visitors who camp, fish, and enjoy water sports.

A bonus of the field tour was a wildflower season that is still in full swing, thanks to cooler, wetter than normal spring weather.